Date: Fri, 28 Dec 2001 02:47:44 -0500 From: "Bob Hall" <rjhalljr@starpower.net> To: FreeBSD Questions <freebsd-questions@FreeBSD.ORG> Subject: Re: Teaching parents UNIX Message-ID: <20011228024744.B1098@starpower.net> In-Reply-To: <014701c18f57$14b29860$0a00000a@atkielski.com>; from anthony@freebie.atkielski.com on Fri, Dec 28, 2001 at 05:21:10AM %2B0100 References: <1009413895.49812ff2Tom_Parquette@myrealbox.com> <005901c18e9e$9edcc510$0a00000a@atkielski.com> <20011227185002.A619@starpower.net> <014701c18f57$14b29860$0a00000a@atkielski.com>
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On Fri, Dec 28, 2001 at 05:21:10AM +0100, Anthony Atkielski wrote: > Bob writes: > > > In a situation where the maintainer and the user > > are different people, the best solution is to use > > the OS that the maintainer prefers to maintain. > > The maintainer will provide better maintenance and > > instruction, and the user will have a more reliable > > and easier to use system. In the long run, the user > > will prefer the system the maintainer prefers. > > That seems logical, but the obvious question is why use an OS that requires > maintenance in the first place? A reliable OS is generally one that does > _not_ require maintenance. There are no desktop systems that don't require maintenance, if they are getting regular use. New apps have to be installed when users use the systems for new tasks, voltage fluctuations cause damage that has to be repaired, users don't update their virus protection and someone has to run the virus removal software, etc. If the system is Windows, then installation of new programs replaces dlls and cause existing apps to stop functioning, some MS apps cause progressive deterioration in the OS and the OS eventually has to be reinstalled (this happens during Access2000 development in Win2000), and so on. > And what do you do if you can't be nearby to maintain it? My parents are > thousands of miles away. If you recall, this thread was started by someone who will be available to provide his mother and sister with support. Personally, I wouldn't offer to provide free on site support to someone who was thousands of miles away, no matter how much I loved them. If you've committed yourself to doing this, I'm afraid I can't offer any suggestions. I installed NT on my Dad's computer a few months ago, partly because my brother is providing half the support and my brother only has experience with Windows. Dad uses the computer almost exclusively as a communication device, so he doesn't have any strong preferences on OSs. This isn't evidence in support of my claim; it just means that I practice what I preach. Dad's going to be happiest with the system that can be supported by whichever son is available, so that's the system he gets. Actually, Dad would be better off with a Mac, but he won't spend that much money on himself, and my brother and I can't afford to spend it. Taking all of the above into account, my claim should be amended to "When the maintainer is the maintainer because he/she is related to the user, and the user doesn't have a large investment in skills related to one system, the user will prefer the system the maintainer prefers, given the budget constraint." I think that covers the situation described by the original poster, which is the situation I was addressing. Bob Hall -- Know thyself? Absurd direction! Bubbles bear no introspection. -Khushhal Khan Khatak To Unsubscribe: send mail to majordomo@FreeBSD.org with "unsubscribe freebsd-questions" in the body of the message
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